The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced Wednesday that the Social Security Administration (SSA) has officially ended its contract for the “Gender X” marker on public-facing applications. This move is expected to save taxpayers more than $1 million.
“The Social Security Administration has canceled its contract for the ‘Gender X initiative marker’ and removed all references to gender ideology from public-facing forms,” DOGE shared in a statement on X. “This action aligns with the President’s Executive Order and reduces unnecessary government spending.”
Trump’s Executive Order Reinstates Traditional Terminology
On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring federal agencies to revise language in official documentation, replacing the term “gender” with “sex.” The directive aims to reinforce the use of biological sex classifications in federal policies and procedures.
“The removal of sex-based language from policies undermines not only women’s rights but also the integrity of the American system,” the order states. “Government decisions must be rooted in reality to ensure scientific accuracy, public safety, and trust in federal institutions.”
This policy shift reverses initiatives from the Biden administration that allowed individuals who do not identify as male or female to select “X” on documents such as passports.
Broader Federal Changes on Gender Markers
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) were directed to pause processing any applications that would issue documents featuring an “X” marker for gender. Now, the Social Security Administration is taking similar action, signaling a broader rollback of previous policies across federal agencies.
Lawmakers React to Cost Savings
The decision to discontinue the “Gender X” marker program and its associated spending drew immediate reactions from lawmakers. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., commented on X about the cost savings, saying:
“$1,000,000 in taxpayer dollars wasted—just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to government inefficiency.”
Mace, who has been vocal on gender-related policies, previously introduced legislation to restrict biological males from using women’s restrooms in the U.S. Capitol following the election of Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., the first openly transgender member of the House.
With federal agencies now revising policies in line with Trump’s executive order, further adjustments to government documentation and identity classifications may be on the horizon.